Webb makes major charge

For a time these past few months, Annika Sorenstam has played like the world's number one even if, technically, she wasn't.

On Sunday, Karrie Webb - who had dominated the women's game for two years but who had been forced to live in the Swede's shadow of late - reclaimed her place on the podium with a runaway win in the US Women's Open at Southern Pines in North Carolina. Webb chose the perfect timing for her first American win of the season. Having watched Sorenstam win five times - including the season's first major, the Nabisco Championship - and shooting the first 59 in women's tour history, Webb struck back with an authoritive display that saw her finish eight shots clear of runner-up Se Ri Pak, winner of the title in 1998. The Australian became only the seventh golfer to win the US Women's Open in consecutive years - and the first since Sorenstam in 1996 - and has now won four of the past seven majors, the most dominant stretch on the US LPGA Tour since Pat Bradley won four out of five in 1985-'86. She was the only player to finish under-par on the Pine Needles lay-out that was designed by Donald Ross and her eight-stroke winning margin was the largest in 21 years.

Webb, who earned $520,000 for her latest win, heads to next month's US LPGA Championship with the chance to claim a career Grand Slam.